Vegetarian Lasagna
Sauce:
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 cups fresh mushrooms, washed and thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
1-1/2 teaspoons Oregano
2 teaspoons salt
1-16 ounce can tomatoes cut into small pieces, undrained
1-16 ounce can tomato sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
Turn your oven to 350 degrees. placing rack in center of the oven. Brown together the mushrooms, onions, garlic, Oregano, and saft. Drain excess fat. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, and sugar. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Cheese Filling:
2 cups Ricotta Cheese OR Cream Style Cottage Cheese
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
Mix together ingredients and set aside for later.
Vegetable Filling:
2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
4 cups fresh mushrooms, washed and thinly sliced
2 10-ounce packages frozen, chopped spinach, THAWED and DRAINED
1 teaspoon salt
Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium high heat, add garlic and mushrooms and saute until mushrooms begin to get limp. Add prepared spinach and salt, and stir just until spinach is heated throughout. Remove from heat and set aside
Lasagna Noodles:
12 Lasagna Noodles cooked according to package directions (I always like to cook a couple extra) Cheeses for Topping:
2 cups grated Mozzarella Cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
Grated Cheddar Cheese (Optional)
While preparing the sauce, you will want to prepare the Lasagna Noodles according to package directions.
While the sauce is simmering, mix the cheese, eggs, and Nutmeg together and set aside. Grate the Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses (and Cheddar Cheese if you like) and mix together and set aside.
Into a greased 9X13 rectangular pan, place 4 of the cooked Lasagna Noodles. Spread 1/2 of the cheese filling and 1/2 the vegetable filling over the noodles. Distribute about 1/2 of the sauce over this. Using about 1/3 of the grated cheese, spread this over the sauce. Layer another 4 Lasagna Noodles on top of this and repeat the process of layering. Place the last 4 noodles on top and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
Place on center rack in oven and bake for about 40 minutes. Remove from oven, let set for about 5 to 10 minutes. Serve hot with a nice salad and thick slices of garlic bread (recipe included below). Serves 8 to 10 people.
Garlic Bread
1 loaf thickly sliced Sourdough or French
1 stick butter, melted
1 teaspoon garlic salt OR 2 cloves finely minced plus 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon Paprika
Melt butter and add garlic salt OR garlic and salt and Paprika. Place sliced bread on a sheet of foil large enough to wrap the whole loaf of bread. Using a pastry brush, dab butter mixture on each slice of bread. Wrap bread in foil and place in 350 degree oven for about 10 to 15 minutes. Serve hot, serves 8-10 people.